MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Chandi Jones scored a career-high 17 points and the Minnesota Lynx hung on to beat the Houston Comets 73-62 Tuesday night.

Minnesota (14-16) also got 16 points from Nicole Ohlde and 14 from Svetlana Abrosimova.

Houston (16-14) dropped a half-game behind idle Seattle in the race for second place in the Western Conference and home court in the first round of the playoffs. The Comets have lost four straight on the road.

Houston went on a 9-0 run, seven scored by Sheryl Swoopes, to cut the deficit to two points. A pair of free throws by Swoopes gave the Comets a 57-56 advantage with 6:28 remaining. The Comets didn’t lead again.

A layup, short hook and two free throws by Ohlde put Minnesota up 64-60 with 4:19 remaining.

Swoopes finished with 21 points. Michelle Snow had 17 for the Comets and Janeth Arcain added 10.

AP-ES-08-16-05 2209EDT